It’s in the mess that memories are made. Right? At least that’s how it seems to be work at our house. Be it in the kitchen or outside in a pile of leaves or with bubbles in the bathtub. It’s the fun and messy activities that make the best memories. My oldest elf Ryan helping scoop dough for Jif® Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies onto the cookie sheets. I love … [Read more...]
Gourmet Homemade Microwave Popcorn
There are controversial chemicals in packaged microwave popcorn but our family loves to eat popcorn as a healthy snack, and I really enjoy the convenience of popping it in the microwave, so we simply make our own using brown paper lunch bags. It's quick and easy to make and also costs a fraction of the price of the packaged variety. All you need are a few simple … [Read more...]
Mushroom Cranberry Stuffing
I love fruit in my stuffing. Whether it's cranberries, apples or dried cherries, I love how the sweetness from the fruit brings out savory and salty flavors in the stuffing. Paired with the earthy and hearty texture of mushrooms, it's a popular combination well beyond the Thanksgiving table. I also like to add a little extra broth to my stuffing because I like to keep it … [Read more...]
Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onion
I think I need a support group. Specifically, a Caramelized Onions support group. I could eat caramelized onions by the spoonful. I love the way they taste. I love the way they make my house smell when they are caramelizing. And I love the way they make mashed potatoes taste better. I will be taking these to our Thanksgiving feast. Rest assured. Mashed Potatoes with … [Read more...]
Roasted Butternut Squash with Crunchy Caramelized Onions
Butternut squash...I feel like it is my mission in life to not only help others spend less on groceries, but also to know what to do with the groceries when they buy them. As autumn approaches, the prices of fall fruits and vegetables plummet. At our house, we do our best to take advantage of these savings by bringing more variety to our diet and eating seasonally. My … [Read more...]
Lactose Free St. Patrick’s Day Shakes
If your kids are anything like mine, they've already started asking for green this and green that. For breakfast, they were begging me to make green eggs and ham. Not on a school morning. *ahem* But I do have plans to make them some green chocolate chip cookies after school today! And maybe we'll go crazy and add green sprinkles on them before we bake them. (For anyone … [Read more...]
How to Save Money on Food During Holiday Craziness
Are you rushing around finishing Christmas gifts only to be tempted by fast food, take out and expensive snacks in the check out lane? Are you exhausted from staying up late wrapping presents and have no motivation to make dinner? During these busy holiday days, you can spend much more on food as you cope with more dinners out and less time in the kitchen. Here are a … [Read more...]
Dipped Pretzel Sticks and Gift Tags
We absolutely adore our children's teachers and the other wonderful personnel at their school so the kids helped me whip up these Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Sticks for them, then I created these "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" gift tags to decorate them with. Now the kids are super excited to hand deliver them at school tomorrow! Feel free to download the gift … [Read more...]
Hot Chocolate Mix Gifts Your Kids Can Make!
Just four ingredients. Plus one or more children equal a fun time making hot chocolate mix for gifts. At our house we abandoned store-bought individual hot chocolate packets long ago. Only because we needed more. When the temperature dipped outside, we went through about a box in a day. With this recipe and warehouse-sized containers, we make a frugal, homemade version in … [Read more...]
Carrot Cake with Spiced Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting
There's just something about sour cream mixed into a cake batter. The added moisture and texture makes it so-so-so fluff-ilicious! And then the frosting…sneaking in a little Breakstone’s sour cream into this cake’s frosting for a perfect balance of sweet and tangy with every bite. This cake is the perfect end to any holiday meal…it’s light, … [Read more...]